Enteropeptidase (also called
enterokinase) is an
enzyme produced by cells of the
duodenum and involved in human and animal
digestion. It is secreted from intestinal glands (the
crypts of Lieberkühn) following the entry of ingested food passing from the stomach. Enteropeptidase converts
trypsinogen (a
zymogen) into its active form
trypsin, resulting in the subsequent activation of
pancreatic digestive enzymes. Absence of enteropeptidase results in intestinal digestion impairment.